Awesome Art Supplies | White Nights Watercolors
Even a true artist does not always produce art.
Carroll O’Connor
I got a whole batch of awesome art supplies for Christmas, so I guess I must be very loved or something… Well, the truth is I ordered them myself and then got my mom to pay and give them to me. I pretended the surprise, but not the happiness. Art Supplies is the gift that keeps on giving you know.
I got a new box for my old watercolors, a pad of square watercolor paper, two sets of paint brushes and one of the best things was a whole set of 24 artist watercolor pans. Hallelujah!
I have never owned a whole new set like this before so just opening each of the “candy bars” got me extremely excited. It was like 24 tiny gifts inside a big package… The brand is Russian and called White Nights, and they are really nice.
I have only bought small half pans before, one by one when in need of a refill. Sometimes I even bought those tiny half pans just as a gift to myself. Then when I got home I just play with a new color. But in this pack – 24 new colors just for me. What happiness! It makes me wonder why I didn’t splurge on or wish for something like this ages ago… Things like this is really the best gift a creative person can get.
I decided to paint color swatches as I opened the White Nights Watercolors up, and note the names of each color. I wanted to try them out at once and it’s good to have the swatches with names in case I want to refer back to it later.
I am not an expert, but I must say I do love how pigmented and lovely these watercolors are. Now all I want to do is experiment with these colors and make little puddles of water and paint on paper.
As with everything, there is pros and cons to buying a whole set like this. These are not too expensive, and buying them as a kit saves money. But then you also get a range of color that you might not use as often. Since I don’t sketch and paint from life/nature I doubt I will use up all these umber, sienna and browns in my lifetime. Also, there wasn’t a pink in the box (though the purple one was a fun surprise). But all in all, I’m a fan of White Nights so far.
And I noticed that the swatches are really helpful when I’m painting, since many of the colors look almost black in the box, so it’s easier to take a look at the painted swatches when I want to pick the right color.
Watercolors was my first real art love, I think, and they continue to be a favorite medium. So as I’m sure you’ve already figured out, I was like a kid at Christmas when I got these… For realz.
Gorgeous! Merry Christmas, to you!
They look like delicious chocolates all wrapped up! I agree that a color swatch is a very good idea. I look forward to seeing what you create with your new colors.
YUM!! these look scrumptious hanna-i am new to using watercolors…i got a small travel set of windsor newton recently and am enjoying just playing with them. very different from smearing acrylics around with a card! looking forward to seeing what you create with them :) thanks for sharing. jenny
what a fab gift, enjoy x
Great gift….. gorgeous colours
I got money for my birthday from my mum and dad and I’m going to be spending it on art supplies too :)
Karen x
I love White Nights watercolors, they are popular and very cheap here in Poland and I can buy them separately. Really nice juicy colors! In fact I use them often than Schmincke or WN. I’m glad iHanna, you like them too :)
Hello Hanna. I live in Turkey and my mom has been taking watercolor courses since 3 years. Her art teacher told her to buy White Nights from the very beginning. She said they are artist quality paints and they will not fade and stand the test of time.So for the paintings they intend to sell, they use this brand. Here it was 150 TL last year (55 Euros roughly) The pigments are lovely, they give such saturated colors with very little paint. So they are not consumed easily. I hope you will enjoy them for a long time. Happy painting :)
What a great present — i love to get art supplies as gifts too. And they do look like wrapped up little (eye) candy as someone commented. Have fun creating!
I was going to go and do some sewing but now . . . I’m not so sure. And your mother is a darling.
How fun!
Wow, great art supplies! I really like the swatch idea–I might need to do that with the set I just got. :)
I saw your new set on Flickr and thought “Oh, what fun!” Enjoy!!!
I’ve been wondering about these. The reviews are so mixed that I decided against buying them, but I look forward to seeing what you think of them and do with them in the future. I might get them after all. They look yummy, except for the no pink part, what are they thinking? Pink is essential! ;-)
jag spenderade mycket av mina födelsedagspengar på målargrejer, däribland den minsta lådan med white nights akvarellfärger – på senaste tiden har jag verkligen velat lära mig måla akvarell. men nu när jag ser din färglåda, så påminns jag om att jag helt glömt bort mina akvarellfärger… alltså dags att plocka fram dom, och lära känna dom!